Endurance: Audi sweeps Sebring (+photos)

By Auto123.com (Auto123.com),

Monday, March 19, 2012

From ACO

Leading from the front the No. 2 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 TDI of Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello won the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 10th victory in the event for Audi and the third win the trio of drivers have won together.

Photo: ALMS

It was also a 1-2 for Audi as the No. 3 car of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loic Duval came home in second place four laps behind their teammates.

Photo: ALMS

The Starworks Motorsport HPD ARX 03b-Honda of Vicente Potolicchio, Ryan Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin finished third overall and first in LMP2, a great result for the American team on home soil.

Photo: ALMS

A great battle in the GT class saw Olivier Beretta in the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia battling with the No. 56 BMW or Joey Hand for the overall GT victory.

Photo: ALMS

The lead changed three times on the last two laps with Hand getting the better run into the final corner and taking the GT win as Beretta struggled with a puncture. The No. 71 Ferrari still took the chequered flag as the winner of the LMGTE Pro class.

Photo: ALMS

The No. 88 Team Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 of Christian Ried, Paolo Ruberti and Gianluca Roda took the first LMGTE Am win in FIA WEC.